Practicum in Electronic Media Syllabus for 2026-2027
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

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If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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For-credit academic and workforce education courses offered at Amarillo College are limited to the course options available in the statewide inventory for two-year public institutions. Courses in the state-authorized lower-division Academic Course Guide Manual and Workforce Education Course Manual have specific descriptions that prescribe course content and may include specific student learning outcomes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) maintains and regularly updates these manuals. Amarillo College faculty and leaders ensure that these courses are aligned with THECB guidelines and evaluated based on student performance outcomes. Students enrolled in these courses are expected to engage with and learn course content. According to the AC Board of Regents Policy Manual, "faculty members are entitled to academic freedom in the conduct of research and teaching and are tasked with the associated responsibilities" (DGC). Students are entitled to academic freedom in the classroom, as well, and faculty "must not attempt to force on students a personal viewpoint and must at all times allow diversity of opinion" (Amarillo College Academic Affairs Manual).

Course

COMM-2324-001 Practicum in Electronic Media

Prerequisites

Instructor permission required.

Course Description

Internship arranged with a media outlet; student will work at radio or television station, magazine, newspaper or advertising agency with faculty supervision.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

Hours

(3 sem hrs 6 lab)

Class Type

Clinical

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

No textbook is required for this course. All course materials, assignment instructions and forms will be provided through Blackboard.

Supplies

Students will need:

• Regular access to Blackboard and their Amarillo College email account.
• Access to a reliable computer and internet connection.
• Microsoft Word or Google Docs for completing written assignments.
• Reliable access to the approved internship site.
• Any clothing, equipment or software required by the internship organization.
• A method for accurately tracking internship dates, hours and activities.

Students should not purchase equipment or software specifically for an internship without first discussing the requirement with the instructor and internship supervisor.

Student Performance

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge and skills developed in mass communication courses within a professional environment.
2. Demonstrate professional communication, dependability, time management and ethical decision-making.
3. Complete communication or media-related responsibilities under the supervision of an industry professional.
4. Work effectively with supervisors, coworkers, clients and members of the public.
5. Accept and apply constructive feedback to improve professional performance.
6. Identify and work toward specific professional learning goals.
7. Evaluate their professional strengths, challenges and areas for continued growth.
8. Develop professional materials that support future educational and career opportunities.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Communication Expectations

I will send course announcements and reminders through Blackboard. If you have an individual question or concern, please email me at mfowler@actx.edu using your Amarillo College email account. I do not respond to messages sent through Blackboard.

Please allow up to 48 hours for a response. Correspondence received on Fridays, weekends or college holidays may not be addressed until the next regularly scheduled business day. Please allow at least one week for feedback on graded assignments and activities.

Because this course takes place primarily at an internship site, regular communication is essential. Students must contact both the internship supervisor and the course instructor promptly when an absence, scheduling conflict, workplace concern or other issue may affect the internship.

Professionalism

Students represent themselves, the Matney Mass Media Program and Amarillo College while completing their internships. Students are expected to behave professionally at all times.

Professionalism includes:

• Arriving on time and prepared to work.
• Following the schedule established with the internship supervisor.
• Completing assigned responsibilities thoroughly and by the established deadlines.
• Communicating respectfully with supervisors, coworkers, clients and members of the public.
• Accepting feedback and making appropriate improvements.
• Taking initiative while respecting the organization’s policies and chain of command.
• Maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive or private information.
• Following appropriate ethical and professional standards.
• Asking questions when expectations or assignments are unclear.
• Informing the instructor promptly when problems arise.

Routine office or clerical work may be part of an internship, but it should not represent the majority of the student’s responsibilities. Students should contact the instructor if their assigned work does not provide meaningful professional experience related to communication or media.

Confidentiality and Professional Materials

Students may not share confidential workplace information, unpublished materials, account credentials, private client information or internal communications without authorization.

Students must also receive permission before including work completed during the internship in a portfolio, résumé, website, social media account or other public space.

Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence

All time logs, reflections and assignments must accurately represent the student’s own work and experiences. Fabricating internship hours, responsibilities, supervisor feedback or workplace experiences is a serious violation of academic integrity.

Unless specifically permitted, students may not use artificial intelligence to write personal reflections or describe internship experiences on their behalf. Students should not enter confidential information or unpublished workplace materials into an artificial intelligence platform.

Late Work Policy

Late work will NOT be accepted.

Students are responsible for submitting assignments by the deadlines listed in Blackboard and the course calendar. If you do not understand an assignment or experience a problem that may prevent you from meeting a deadline, contact me before the assignment is due.

Begin assignments early enough to ask questions and receive assistance before the deadline.

Grading Criteria

Internship Agreement and Professional Goals

At the beginning of the semester, students will submit an internship agreement identifying the internship organization, site supervisor, anticipated responsibilities, work schedule and professional learning goals.

The internship agreement must be approved before internship hours may be counted toward the course requirement.

Internship Hours and Time Logs

Students must complete a minimum of 120 approved internship hours during the semester.

Students will maintain a record of the dates, hours and activities completed at the internship site. Time logs must be submitted through Blackboard according to the deadlines listed in the course calendar.

Each time log should include:

• The dates worked.
• The number of hours completed each day.
• A brief description of the work completed.
• The total number of hours completed during the reporting period.
• The student’s cumulative internship hours.

Submitting a time log does not replace the requirement to complete the internship hours. Students who do not complete the required internship hours may not receive a passing grade in the course.

Progress Reports and Course Meetings

Students will attend scheduled course meetings and submit regular progress reports about their internship experiences.

Progress reports may address:

• Responsibilities or projects completed.
• Skills practiced or developed.
• Challenges encountered.
• Feedback received.
• Connections to previous coursework.
• Progress toward professional learning goals.
• Questions or concerns about the internship.

Course meetings give students an opportunity to discuss their experiences, receive support and address concerns before they interfere with successful completion of the internship.

Résumé Assignment

Students will submit an updated professional résumé that includes their internship experience, education, relevant work experience and professional skills.

The résumé should be clearly organized, professionally written, carefully proofread and appropriate for use when applying for employment, internships or transfer opportunities.

Supervisor Evaluation

The internship supervisor will complete an evaluation of the student’s performance near the end of the semester.

The evaluation may address:

• Attendance and punctuality.
• Dependability.
• Professional communication.
• Initiative.
• Quality of work.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Response to feedback.
• Teamwork.
• Ethical behavior.
• Overall professional growth.

Students are responsible for providing the evaluation form to their supervisors and following up to ensure it is submitted by the deadline.

Final Internship Reflection and Portfolio

As the culminating assignment for this course, you will complete a 3–5 page reflection paper about your internship experience and submit evidence of your work completed during the internship. This final project should demonstrate both your professional growth and the contributions you made at your internship site. 

Reflection Paper 

• 3–5 full pages 

• Double-spaced 

• 12-point font of your choice (please don’t use Comic Sans) 

• 1-inch margins 

• Professionally written 

• Proofread 

Internship Overview 

- Where did you complete your internship? 

- What is the mission or purpose of the organization? 

- What were your primary responsibilities? 

Skills and Knowledge Gained 

- What new skills did you develop? 

- What did you learn about the industry or profession? 

- How did your other classes help prepare you for this experience? 

Challenges and Problem Solving 

- Describe any challenges you encountered. 

- How did you respond to those challenges? 

- What did those experiences teach you? 

Professional Growth 

- How did you grow personally or professionally? 

- Did your confidence, communication, teamwork, or time management improve? 

Career Reflection 

- Did this internship confirm or change your career goals? 

- How has this experience shaped your future plans? 

Overall Evaluation 

- What was the most valuable part of the internship? 

- What advice would you give future interns? 

Portfolio 

Submit at least 5 examples of the work you completed during your internship. These items should clearly demonstrate your involvement and contributions. 

Examples may include: 

- Writing samples 

- Social media posts or campaigns 

- Photos of projects or events 

- Designs, flyers, or promotional materials 

- Videos or audio work 

- Reports, spreadsheets, or research projects 

- Screenshots of completed work 

- Published content or links 

- Programs, schedules, or event materials 

- Supervisor evaluations or letters 

For each item, include a brief caption (2–3 sentences) explaining: 

- What the item is 

- Your role in creating it 

- What skills it demonstrates 

Grade Distribution

Grading Scale

• A = 89.5–100
• B = 79.5–89.4
• C = 69.5–79.4
• D = 59.5–69.4
• F = 59 and below

Attendance

Attendance in this course includes participation at the internship site, attendance at scheduled course meetings and completion of required progress reports.

Students are expected to follow the work schedule established with their internship supervisors. If a student must miss a scheduled shift, the student must notify the supervisor as soon as possible and follow the organization’s procedures for reporting an absence.

Students are responsible for arranging with the supervisor to complete missed internship hours.

Repeated absences, failure to communicate or failure to report to the internship site may affect the student’s grade. Removal from an internship placement may prevent the student from completing the course.

Students should contact the instructor immediately if they experience unsafe conditions, harassment, discrimination, inadequate supervision, significantly different responsibilities than those originally approved or another concern that affects their ability to complete the internship.

Calendar

Additional Information

Internship Placement Concerns

The internship is intended to provide meaningful professional experience related to mass communication. Students should contact the instructor promptly if they:

• Are not receiving meaningful communication or media-related responsibilities.
• Are regularly asked to perform duties that differ substantially from the approved internship agreement.
• Are not receiving appropriate supervision.
• Are asked to perform work that appears unsafe, unethical or inappropriate.
• Experience harassment, discrimination or another serious workplace concern.
• Believe they may not complete the required hours by the end of the semester.

Students should not wait until the end of the semester to report a problem that may affect their ability to complete the course.

Strategies for Success

• Maintain a regular schedule with your internship supervisor.
• Keep an accurate record of your hours and activities as you complete them.
• Check Blackboard and your Amarillo College email regularly.
• Communicate early when questions, conflicts or concerns arise.
• Ask for feedback and apply it to future work.
• Treat every internship responsibility as an opportunity to build your professional reputation.
• Keep copies or records of work that you may be permitted to use in a future portfolio.
• Do not wait until the final weeks of the semester to complete the required internship hours.